My baby registry

[motleymuse]

I've been looking through my baby registry to check out the developmental value of the toys and other stuff I'm registered for. The world is so exciting from a baby's perspective! Here are some highlights:

Baby's First Toys: This is a huge assortment of brightly-colored baby-safe objects, from letter-shaped teethers to rattles and crinkly animals

Comments

[rudy24]

So you are expecting a baby girl or boy? I like what you were talking about because my girlfriends sister is expecting a baby boy and she kept talking about a " Baby Registry" and I didn't know what that specifically meant until know. So I wish you good luck. And keep us posted.

Baby

[motleymuse]

Hi rudy24! Our baby's gender is still a mystery... on two ultrasounds he/she was turned at a bad angle and the tech couldn't tell, though at the second one, the nurse said she was _pretty_ sure it's a girl. We're not counting on it, though! Oh well, we really wanted our baby stuff to be as gender neutral as possible, so not knowing if it's a boy or a girl will keep us from getting any of the really gender-specific baby gifts!

[mdulay]

Nice selection, Joanna. Although I am among the many who bash the "Mozart Effect" research, there is a great deal of worth in music for children. A nice appreciation of this can be seen in a recent SCIAM article. I will bring a copy in for you next week if you are interested.

Might I also suggest Kids are Worth It! by B. Coloroso.

Mike

Music and babies

[motleymuse]

Hi there! Thanks for your comment. I'd love to see the article. One pet peeve of many music educators (including myself) is that in this day and age the funding of music education has to be defended with non-musical/artistic outcomes--such as music improving math, etc., rather than by its own worth as part of a complete education (which _should_ include the creative and emotional development of a child, not just "IQ" skills). The fact that participation in musical performance (not just listening to Mozart) has been shown to improve students' logical-mathematical thinking should be thought of as a cool side effect, not the goal. Oh well, it's hard to expect people to support the funding of musical education in schools when core subjects such as science are getting the boot in elementary schools.

Your baby and music

[jchl]

My 2 cents: Toys for babies are really just safer versions of regular household items.My son is now old enough to have developed his own musical taste and he loves The Clash...I wonder were he gets it? ;-) Our son used to sing to himself constantly when he was small.My first urge was to think that I wasn't providing enough musical stimulation,b ecause he had to make his own music, then I realized that given him the quiet space gave him room to fill it.Babies are pretty good at getting what they need, in a reasonable environment, their adaptive powers are breathtaking

[anonymous]

My baby boy could play for hour with his toys. When he got a new one he was so happy.

[nnett]

I also liked the Baby's First Toys I think its a great baby shower present, I got it from a good friend.